Three-match series starts in Adelaide on Thursday and is a rare chance to test 50-over tactics before World Cup next year
Like many a distressed film protagonist, you could fall to your knees and lash the heavens with the eternal question: why? When you look at this week’s 50-over international series between Australia and England, with the first match in Adelaide coming four days after England sealed the T20 World Cup title in Melbourne, it is puzzling to see the supposed pinnacle of one format followed by the pedestrian in a slightly different variation. Australia did need to play a series against England for Super League points, to qualify for the next 50-over World Cup – but that series happened back in 2020. This one is an optional extra, the basket of soaps in a hotel.
You can understand then why England all-rounder Moeen Ali confirmed the obvious when asked about it: that heading off to travel and train immediately after raising a trophy, rather than having at least a day or two to celebrate with the teammates who went there with you, is a situation that entirely sucks. Then again, administrators don’t know how deep any team will go into a tournament. England nearly had an early World Cup exit like Australia’s, and with a longer break before the next series would probably have been annoyed at having to wait around so long.
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